School Based

In Franklin County, the School Based Program began in 1994. The School-Based Probation Officers’ primary work site is in the school that they are assigned, and the focus is on the youth that are under the jurisdiction of the Court via the Juvenile Act of Pennsylvania. At this time, in Franklin County, there are Probation Officers in the Chambersburg School District, Waynesboro School District, and Tuscarora School District on a full-time or part-time basis in the secondary schools.

The goals of the program are to:

Improve communication between the school district and the probation department

Improve cooperation among the family, school, probation department and other community agencies involved with the youth and/or family

Advocate for the educational and related needs of mutual clients

Provide the school with alternatives for managing students exhibiting behavioral problems

These goals can be accomplished through the duties of the School-Based Probation Officer. The duties are based on, but not limited, to the Juvenile Court Judges’ Commission (JCJC) Standards. These duties include monitoring and sanctioning: behavior, academic performance, and absenteeism. School Based Officers enforce school rules and policies, and communicate with the parents of the youth under supervision. The School-Based Probation Officers are also able to conduct random urinalyses and searches and seizures of youth under supervision. In addition, if time is available, School-Based Probation Officers have been willing to provide further service to the schools via chaperoning extra-curricular activities, bus duty, classroom lectures, lunch monitoring, hall monitoring, group facilitation, and community service supervision, etc. Furthermore, the School-Based Probation Officers are encouraged to participate in the Student Assistance Program (SAP).

The Franklin County School-Based Probation Program also utilizes, outside of the school setting, Saturday School for those youth under the supervision of the Probation Department. A youth can be assigned Saturday School for poor academic grades, poor deportment, truancy, missed detention, behavioral referrals, etc.

The School-Based Probation Officers also supervise and are involved in other programs, once school is out for the summer. These include a summer enrichment program and a community service program. The summer enrichment program allows youth under the jurisdiction of the Court to pay towards fines, costs, and restitution owed.

Franklin County is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provides advancement opportunities to everyone. Our employment practices are not influenced or affected by race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran's status, or any other categories protected by law.